MPs draft family planning bill to limit population growth

Head of the parliamentary committee of health affairs Mohamed El-Amary drafted a family planning bill to confront population growth with other 60 members of parliament, which will be discussed during the upcoming legislative term starting in October.

The law proposes the granting for families who will have only two children incentives, and prevents imposing sanctions on those who have more than two children, because it is unconstitutional.

The committee aims at inviting specialists from all sides to participate in the dialogue over the draft law.

“The committee will receive all relevant proposals from all interested parties, and we will not say that we have finished discussing anything without inviting specialists from all sides to participate in the community dialogue on the draft law,” Al-Amary said.

The draft law has not been sent to anybody to provide their opinion over it.

Two weeks ago, controversy stirred among parliament members (MPs) over a bill calling to cut subsidies for families’ third child as a way to regulate population growth, as some commented on it as unconstitutional, while others welcomed it.

In January 2018, the bill, which included 13 articles, was drafted by Mohamed Masoud called on the state to develop and implement a residential programme aimed at balancing population growth rates by not giving benefits for a third child.

However, the parliament has not convened, and the committee is exercising its supervisory role to be prepared for the next term. The committee is currently discussing a bill to establish a General Authority for Medicine and regulations of Comprehensive Health Insurance. Al-Amary noted that the medical law will take time in discussions, and will be referred to community dialogue soon, as it is a priority for the committee.